Beauty of Joseon vs SKIN1004 Sunscreen: Same Filters, Different Skin Benefits
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The Beauty of Joseon vs SKIN1004 question sits at the center of every K-beauty sunscreen debate, and the answer most people give is about texture. We opened both ingredient lists on INCIDecoder and found something that none of the TikTok comparisons mention. The four UV filters in Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun* are the same four UV filters in SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum*.[1][2] Same molecules, same order on the label, same broad-spectrum coverage. The entire difference between these two sunscreens is in the skincare ingredients wrapped around those filters.
The short version: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun and SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum share an identical UV filter system: Uvinul A Plus, Uvinul T 150, Tinosorb M, and Iscotrizinol, all at SPF 50+ PA++++.[1][2] What separates them is everything else. Beauty of Joseon builds its base on 30 percent rice extract and a set of fermented grain ingredients.[1] SKIN1004 builds its base on centella asiatica extract at 9,800 ppm and sodium hyaluronate.[2] If you want brightening and nourishing, the rice formula is the one. If you want calming and lightweight hydration, the centella formula is the one. The sun protection is a tie.
The products at a glance
| Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun[1] | SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum[2] | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+ PA++++ | Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF 50+ PA++++ |
| Volume | 50 mL | 50 mL |
| SPF / PA | 50+ / PA++++ | 50+ / PA++++ |
| Hero ingredient | Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, 30% | Centella Asiatica Extract, 9,800 ppm |
| Format | Cream-serum hybrid | Watery serum |
| Fragrance | Not listed in INCI | Not listed in INCI |
Both are 50 mL tubes with the same SPF and PA ratings. Neither lists fragrance or alcohol as a named ingredient. The physical difference is in the vehicle: Beauty of Joseon sits somewhere between a light cream and a serum, while SKIN1004 is closer to a watery essence that sinks in faster.
The UV filters are the same four molecules
This is the part that surprised us. We pulled both full ingredient lists from INCIDecoder and lined up the UV filters side by side.[1][2]
| INCI name | Common name | In BOJ? | In SKIN1004? | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate | Uvinul A Plus (DHHB) | Yes | Yes | UVA absorber |
| Ethylhexyl Triazone | Uvinul T 150 | Yes | Yes | UVB absorber |
| Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol | Tinosorb M (Bisoctrizole) | Yes (nano) | Yes | Broad spectrum UVA + UVB |
| Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone | Iscotrizinol | Yes | Yes | UVB absorber |
Four filters, all organic, all developed in Europe, all permitted in Korea. If you have read our comparison of Tinosorb S and Tinosorb M, you already know that Tinosorb M is a particulate filter that stays as suspended particles rather than dissolving, and that BASF describes it as boosting the performance of oil-soluble filters through scattering. Both products use it.
The one label difference is that Beauty of Joseon prints “(Nano)” after Tinosorb M and SKIN1004 does not.[1][2] That marker refers to particle size under EU labeling rules and does not change the filter itself. Our nano vs non-nano piece covers what that label means in practice.
What this means for you: the sun protection these two products deliver is, on paper, equivalent. Same filter molecules, same SPF rating, same PA rating. You are not choosing between better and worse UV protection. You are choosing between two skincare formulas that happen to wrap around the same shield.
Where they actually differ: the skincare payload
Strip away the shared UV filters and the shared base ingredients (propanediol, polymethylsilsesquioxane, niacinamide, glycerin, behenyl alcohol appear in both), and each product has a different set of actives doing a different job.[1][2]
Beauty of Joseon: rice and ferments
The label leads with Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract at 30 percent, which is the single largest ingredient after water.[1] Below that sit six fermented ingredients: Aspergillus Ferment, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Monascus/Rice Ferment, and Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate.[1] Rice extract has been used in Korean skincare for brightening and moisture barrier support, and the fermentation process is claimed to produce smaller molecules that absorb more easily, though the concentration of each ferment is not disclosed. We wrote a deeper ingredient-by-ingredient read of this formula in our Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun ingredient breakdown.
SKIN1004: centella and hyaluronic acid
SKIN1004 lists Centella Asiatica Extract at 9,800 ppm, which works out to just under 1 percent.[2] Centella is the ingredient that gives “cica” products their name, and it has been studied for its calming and skin-barrier-repair properties. Below that, eight botanical extracts appear (Betula Alba, Ginkgo Biloba, Camellia Sinensis, Triticum Vulgare Sprout, Medicago Sativa, Brassica Oleracea Italica Sprout, Eruca Sativa, and Camellia Japonica), plus Sodium Hyaluronate at 10 ppm.[2] That hyaluronic acid concentration is low enough to be more of a label presence than a performance driver, and we will not pretend otherwise. For a fuller look at the SKIN1004 sunscreen range, our line guide covers the entire family.
Side by side
| Category | Beauty of Joseon[1] | SKIN1004[2] |
|---|---|---|
| Star active | Rice Extract, 30% | Centella Asiatica, 9,800 ppm (~1%) |
| Supporting actives | 6 fermented extracts, Niacinamide | 8 botanical extracts, Sodium Hyaluronate (10 ppm), Niacinamide |
| Primary benefit | Brightening, nourishing | Calming, lightweight hydration |
| What it lacks | No centella or cica for calming | No fermented actives, HA at trace level |
Texture, finish, and the white cast question
This is where every other comparison spends all its time, and there is a reason for that: the two really do feel different on skin.
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun applies as a creamy serum that leaves a soft, slightly dewy finish. On dry to normal skin that dewiness can read as a healthy glow. On oily skin it can tip toward shine within a few hours, which is the most common criticism in Korean review platforms.
SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica applies as a true watery serum, close to the consistency of an essence. It absorbs faster and leaves a lighter finish, which is why it keeps turning up in recommendations for oily and combination skin. The trade-off is that people with dry skin sometimes find it is not moisturizing enough to use without a separate moisturizer underneath.
On white cast: both are chemical-filter-dominant formulas, and neither leaves the kind of mineral cast you get from zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Both contain Tinosorb M, which is a particulate filter that can sometimes leave a faint, barely visible tint on deeper skin tones. Beauty of Joseon may show this slightly more because its creamier base holds more of the formula on the surface. We covered cast in detail in the no white cast guide and in our guide for deep skin tones.
Which one suits your skin type?
| Skin type | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Oily | SKIN1004 | Lighter texture, faster absorption, less residual shine |
| Dry | Beauty of Joseon | Creamier base with 30% rice extract provides more moisture |
| Sensitive / irritated | SKIN1004 | Centella extract is the more established calming ingredient |
| Normal / combination | Either | Both work well; preference is texture, not protection |
| Hyperpigmentation concerns | Beauty of Joseon | Rice extract + niacinamide targets brightening |
One more scenario worth naming: if you use makeup over your sunscreen, SKIN1004’s faster absorption and lighter finish generally layers better under foundation. If your sunscreen is your last step and you want it to feel good for your skin, Beauty of Joseon’s richer texture does that job.
Price and value
Both products sell in the same 50 mL size. Retail prices vary by platform, but at the time of writing both typically fall in the range of 12 to 18 US dollars on major retailers including Amazon, YesStyle, and Olive Young Global, making them close to identical in price per milliliter. Neither product commands a meaningful price premium over the other, and both are significantly cheaper per milliliter than most Western sunscreens at the same SPF level.
The value question is not which one costs less. It is which skincare payload you would rather get with your sun protection.
The honest drawbacks
We listed what each product does well. Here is what each one does not do well, drawn from the ingredient lists and from the patterns we see across Korean review platforms.
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun:
- Can feel too rich for oily skin in humid weather, leading to midday shine.
- The dewy finish means it may not play well under matte foundations without a setting step.
- Rice extract at 30 percent is a large dose of a plant extract, and plant extracts can occasionally irritate reactive skin. If your skin reacts to fermented ingredients, this one has six of them.
SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum:
- Can feel insufficiently moisturizing for dry skin, particularly in winter or dry climates.
- The sodium hyaluronate is listed at 10 ppm, a concentration low enough that calling it a “hyaluronic acid sunscreen” oversells its presence.
- The watery texture, while pleasant, means it can bead up on skin that already has a heavy moisturizer underneath, which looks like pilling.
Two limits on this comparison
First, we compared ingredient lists, not finished-product test results. Both products claim SPF 50+ PA++++, but SPF is measured on the finished formula, not on a list of filters, and the concentration of each filter is not published by either brand. Two products with identical filter names can still differ in how much of each filter they contain and in how the emulsion distributes those filters on skin.
Second, we have not tested these two products against each other on our own skin. The texture and finish descriptions above are synthesis from user reports across multiple Korean review platforms and from our own previous coverage, not from a controlled side-by-side trial. Your experience may differ, and for a 50 mL tube at this price point, trying both is not an unreasonable way to decide.
FAQ
Can I use one in the morning and the other at night?
You can, but there is no UV-protection reason to. Since both use the same four filters, alternating them does not broaden your coverage. The only reason to own both is if you prefer the lighter SKIN1004 finish on hot days and the richer Beauty of Joseon texture on dry days. Think of it as choosing your moisturizer, not choosing your filter.
Which one is safer for fungal acne?
Neither product is certified fungal-acne-safe by any authority, and we have not cross-referenced every ingredient against a Malassezia feeding list. Beauty of Joseon contains multiple ferment extracts, which some fungal-acne databases flag because fermentation can produce fatty-acid byproducts. SKIN1004’s shorter and simpler ingredient list may carry fewer potential triggers, but the only way to know for your skin is to patch test. For a broader look, our sunscreen breakout guide covers the general principles.
Do they pill under makeup?
Both can pill if layered too thickly or applied on top of a silicone-heavy primer. SKIN1004 is the lower-risk option here because its watery texture absorbs before you layer anything on top. With Beauty of Joseon, waiting a full minute for it to set before applying makeup reduces pilling, and tapping rather than rubbing your foundation on helps.
Are these reef safe?
Both use only organic (chemical) UV filters and contain no oxybenzone, octinoxate, or mineral particles. None of the four shared filters appear on the restricted lists used by Hawaii or the US Virgin Islands. That said, reef safe has no single legal definition, and the environmental impact of UV filters in ocean water is an active area of research, not a settled question. Our reef-safe explainer goes deeper into what the label does and does not promise.
Sources
Ingredient databases, accessed 2026-08-13:
[1] INCIDecoder, “Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice Probiotics — SPF50+/PA++++ ingredients (Explained).” Source for the full INCI list including Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract at position two (30%), the four UV filter names and their order, Niacinamide, the six fermented ingredients (Aspergillus Ferment, Bacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Monascus/Rice Ferment, Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate), product name, volume (50 mL), SPF/PA claims, and the “(Nano)” notation on Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol: link
[2] INCIDecoder, “SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum ingredients (Explained).” Source for the full INCI list including Centella Asiatica Extract (9800Ppm), the four UV filter names, Niacinamide, the eight botanical extracts, and Sodium Hyaluronate (10Ppm): link
Brand product pages, accessed 2026-08-13:
[3] Beauty of Joseon official CPNP/SCPN information page for Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics. Ingredient list confirmed; original product listing page removed from site. All quantitative claims (30% rice extract, product name, volume, SPF/PA) verified via INCIDecoder [1]: link
[4] SKIN1004 official site, Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum UV page. Note: the global site product page serves the US formula (avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene) with different UV filters from the Korean-market version reviewed above. All Korean-formula claims (Centella Asiatica 9,800 ppm, UV filter names, volume, SPF/PA) verified via INCIDecoder [2]: link
Topics: Beauty of Joseon · Centella · Fungal Acne-Safe · Ingredient Lists · Niacinamide · PA / UVA Rating · SKIN1004 · Sun Serum · Tinosorb · Under Makeup · All topics
